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Greetings!
With many planning committees up and running, work on the Deer Creek Watershed Initiative continues, and we're looking forward to the exciting work we have ahead of us. If you haven't already shared your thoughts and concerns with us, don't forget to check our website at www.deercreekfriends.net and fill out this easy form. We look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Rick Holton
Chairman, Deer Creek Watershed Friends
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Recap: Public Meeting in Brentwood on Upcoming MSD Project
Demonstration Bioretention System to be installed at Mount Calvary Church 
On December 8, 2009, a bioretention system design with draft planting plan was presented to the neighbors of Mount Calvary Church. The bioretention demonstration project is a partnership between Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, Missouri Botanical Garden, Mount Calvary Church and Washington University, with partial funding provided by Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Missouri Department of Conservation.
The system is designed to slow down stormwater, as well as capture and filter pollutants washing off the church parking lot, thus helping to reduce flooding, water pollution, erosion, and sedimentation in the watershed. The effectiveness of the system will be monitored over time by Washington University Earth and Planetary professor Robert Criss and assistants.
The preliminary plan calls for the installation of up to 13,000 square feet with 20 different types of native grasses, flowering plants, and trees. If you are interested in working with Mount Calvary's Garden Action Team to help maintain the garden after it has been installed, please email Garden Action Team Chairman Richard Adler at adlersfluegel@sbcglobal.net.
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Deer Creek Initiative Receives Intelligent Use of Water Award
2009 State of the Union Award Presented by Rain Bird
Missouri Botanical Garden, along with Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, and Missouri Department of Conservation, has been presented with one of four 2009 Intelligent Use of Water State of the Union Awards for collaboration on the Deer Creek Watershed Initiative. The award was presented by Rain Bird, a leading manufacturer of irrigation products and services. The award recognizes city, state, and water agencies that excel in implementing effective landscape water-efficiency programs and initiatives.
"The Garden [Missouri Botanical] is pleased to play an important role in advancing sustainability within the region," said Deborah Frank, vice president of sustainability at the Missouri Botanical Garden. "The
Deer Creek Watershed Initiative is a great opportunity to demonstrate the value of native plants in responding to our community storm water challenges."
As a 2009 State of the Union Award winner, Missouri Botanical Garden will have a spot
on the panel of Rain Bird's Intelligent Use of Water Summit XI, to be held at the Smithsonian
Institution in Washington, D.C. in April 2010. As panel members, they will have the opportunity to
showcase their award-winning case study to an audience of U.S. and international water management
leaders.
Rain Bird Corporation is the leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and
services. Since its beginnings in 1993, Rain Bird has offered the industry's broadest range of
irrigation products for farms, golf courses, sports arenas, commercial developments and homes in
more than 130 countries around the world. Rain Bird and The Intelligent Use of Water™ is about
using water wisely.
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Your Backyard: Simple Steps to Protect the Watershed
Choose the right de-icer
 Each resident of the St. Louis area has a story about ice and snow, and knows just how slick it can get.
But before you lay down your de-icer this winter, take a moment to check the label. Although a little salt is normal in the environment, over exposure to salt compounds can cause health problems for pets and children. In addition, salt and salt residues can damage asphalt, concrete, wood decks, floors and
rugs, and can also corrode metals on your car. Furthermore, salt tends to be persistent in the environment.
It leaches into the soil and runs off with snow melt or rain into Deer Creek and its tributaries. High concentrations of salt can kill plants, fish, and other wildlife by lowering the amount of oxygen in the water.
To limit the effects of too much salt in the environment, make sure to follow the directions on the products, and apply only when necessary. You can also use sand instead of salt, or look for brands that are free of ingredients harmful to animals, plants and the environment. One example is Safe Paw.
Visit our website at www.deercreekfriends.net for more cold weather tips on keeping your family, pets, yard, and our waterways safe.
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Share Your Photos With the Deer Creek Community
The Deer Creek Friends are now on Flickr
Have a great picture from last year's creek clean-up?
Spotted some interesting wildlife in your backyard? Installed a rain garden or green roof you'd like to tout? Now you can share
with the rest of the Deer Creek Community. The Deer Creek Friends are now on Flickr, a website devoted to sharing photos and video with
your neighborhood and the world. You can view our current photos or
upload your own onto our "photostream" here. You can also email your photos to us and we'll get them posted for you!
Uploading your images is quick and simple.
- Go to Flickr.com
- Log
on to your Flickr account, or sign-up. The account is free and requires
a yahoo.com email address. If you don't have one, Flickr will guide you
through the steps.
- Click the link above and under "Group Pool" click "join."
- Click upload photos and your images will be added to the photostream.
- You will be able to enter a description if you'd like.
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"We never know the worth of water till the well is dry." ~Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732
About the Deer Creek Watershed Initiative
Our purpose is to assess and improve the Deer Creek Watershed. Please forward this email newsletter to your friends and encourage them to get involved. The Deer Creek Watershed Initiative is a project of Missouri Botanical Garden and its partners. This project
is partially funded by US EPA Region 7 through the Missouri Department of Natural
Resources (subgrant number G09-NPS-13), under Section 319 of the Clean
Water Act.
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